Babies enjoy outings at this age: go for walks, trips to parks, museums or the zoo.

Sleep

Place in crib sleepy but awake; establish a nighttime routine which everyone enjoys.

At 4 months of age your child will hopefully soon be sleeping at least one 5-7 hour stretch at night. If your child falls asleep independently at the beginning of the night, it will be easier for your baby to go back to sleep in the middle of the night without your help.

Keep middle of night feeding brief and boring to encourage sleep.

Some babies have transitional objects (comfort objects) as early as four months.

Your infant should sleep only on his/her back.

There is no need to change the diaper of a sleeping baby.

Safety

Use a properly fitting rear-facing car seat. The center rear seat is the safest position.

Never leave a baby unattended on surfaces above the floor. This is the age when babies can roll off the bed or changing table or wiggle out of the car seat or stroller if they are not strapped in place.

Never hold a baby while drinking a hot beverage or smoking.

Check your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on a regular basis. Have a family fire exit plan with ladders in upstairs bedrooms.

Check toys carefully for breakage, sharp or small parts as everything goes in mouth!

Secondhand smoke is harmful. A new baby in the family is excellent motivation to stop smoking. Visit www.quitline.com or talk to your own physician about smoking cessation resources.

Do not use walkers with wheels. They are associated with serious injury. Stationary devices such as Exersaucers or Johnny Jump Up exercisers are good substitutes.

Parenting

Have you gone out on a date since becoming parents? Start a babysitter list and information sheet to leave with caretakers. Include home address, home phone number, cell phone or other contact information, poison control, 911 and medical insurance information.

Take time for yourself and to be alone with other family members. Try to get back to an exercise program for your own mental and physical health.

Nutrition

You may continue to exclusively breastfeed your baby until he/she is 6 months old or longer. Some babies will be ready for solids sooner than others. Watch your child for signs of interest in food when you are eating. Families with a history of allergies, asthma and eczema should delay the introduction of solid foods until six months.

Start with plain rice cereal with iron mixed with breastmilk to a very liquid consistency.

Begin introducing pureed vegetables and fruit baby food when your baby has mastered the art of swallowing. By introducing new foods every 7 days it will help to note if your baby has intolerance or allergies to certain foods, although allergies are rare.

Children do not need juice. If you decide to give juice, put it in a cup, not a bottle, and limit it to less than 4 oz 100% fruit juice a day.

Vitamin D is technically a steroid hormone that is synthesized by your skin upon exposure to direct sunlight. It is extremely important not only for bone health but also for the proper function of your immune system. Risk factors for low vit D levels include dark skin color, inadequate exposure to direct sunlight and low maternal levels of vit. D. Following are a few good sources of vitamin D: Just D available online at http://www.sunlightvitamins.com/, or Tri-vi-sol. Give your baby 1 ml or 400 IU of vitamin D3/ day. You may use cod liver oil as well however it is difficult to give it to a young baby. You should never give cod liver oil directly in a baby's mouth

Hold your baby during feedings. Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle.

Immunizations Today

Your baby will receive the same vaccines he/she received at the 2-month visit. Most babies will have no reaction or are somewhat sleepier following their immunizations. Your baby may develop a fever and/or be fussy for 24-48 hours. Some tenderness or redness at injection site may occur. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be given if any of these symptoms are present. Our website has Tylenol dosing by weight available at www.bainbridgepediatrics.com and can be found under the Medical Information tab.

Next Visit

Please schedule your next visit for when your child is 6 months of age as you leave today.

Books/Resources

Your Baby's First Year by the American Academy of Pediatrics

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley